Head-rest for beds



(No Model.)

- G.V.REEVES.

V HEAD BEST FOR BEDS. 7

No. 471,895. 4 Patented Mar. 29, 1892.

we Nuams rc-rzas cm, wnrmuniu, WASHINGTON. m c.

UNITED STAT 7 PATENT OFFICE.

CARRIE V. REEVES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

HEAD-REST FOR BEDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,895, dated March 29, 1892.

Application filed November 27, 1891. 'SerialNo. 413,306. (No model.)

To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, CARRIE V. REEvEs, a citizen of the United States, residing atBaL timore, State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Head-Rests for Beds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to head-rests for invalid-beds and other analogous uses, theobject thereof being to provide simple and inexpensive means by which a considerable range of adjustment may be obtained in the inclination of the supporting fabric without. materially increasing the dimensions of the .frame as compared with those having a less range of adjustment.

Itis my purpose, in other words, to provide ijahead-rest having two independent adjust- T,ments for inclination, first, viz: a horizontal adjustment, whereby the transverse bar to which the lower edge of the supporting fabric is attached is drawn away from or moved toward the head of the couch, thereby putting the supporting fabric under increased or diminished tension and inclining it at a respectively smaller or greater angle with the horizontal, and, second, a vertical adjustment, whereby the transverse bar to which the raised edge of the fabric is attached shall be raised or lowered either independently or in conjunction with the horizontal adjustment, whereby the angle of inclination may be varied and the elastic fabric subjected to greater or less tension, or the angle of inclination preserved substantially, butthe elastic supporting fabric stretched to have increased or decreased area and a greater or less elastic tension to adapt it to a larger or smaller person and to different weights.

It is my purpose,finally, to provide a headrest adapted to the use of invalids and others,

consisting of but two different parts, each duplicated, the whole capable of being almost instantaneously knocked down fiat and packed in the smallest possible compass without detached parts, and-by reason of the simplicity of its duplicate parts being adapted to reversal when in use, end for end and side for side, to prevent unequal wear and local sagging of the fabric.

The invention consists in the-several novel features of construction and new combina arms.

tions of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and then more particularly pointed out and defined in the claims which conclude this specification.

To enable others to understand and to make, construct, and use my said invention, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a headrest constructed in accordance with my in vention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing one method'of stowing or packing the head-rest.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 indicates one of the two duplicate anglebrackets constituting the rigid su pports for the adjustable members of the head-rest. These angle-brackets consist, usually, of portions of metallic pipe bent at or near the middle at a right angle, or substantially so, thus forming arms2 and 3,either of which may constitute the supporting-base. The length of the tubular arms may be varied considerably, if desired, and one may be of greater length than the other should circumstances require it. These angle-brackets I usually form of brass; but any other suitable material maybe used,

such as metal or an alloy or composition of arms 2 and 3 and lying at right angles to said n i The length of the intermediate'bar 6 is usually about equal to the width of the bed in order that the head-rest may sustain both pillows and preserve the symmetry of the bed.

The arms 5 are inserted in either the horizontal or thevertical arms 2 or 3, and they arefastened atsuitable points by means of clamping-screws 7, tapped through the walls of the tubular portions near their open ends.

Any other suitable form of clamping or looking device may be used in place of screws IOO may be brought outside or inside, as described. I

There are two of the supporting-bars 5, either being a substantial duplicate of the other.

The supporting fabric I form, preferably,

of helical springs of small diameter and closely coiled. Coils 8 of this kind are connected at 1 their ends to the bars Gin anypreferred manner-as, for example, by hooking the said, ends into a wire 9, wound spirally upon each bar 6. These springs are placed at any required interval and are connected trans- "versely by short coils 10, arranged intermedt 5 'ately. I havesh'ownin thed'rawings a single 5 series of these intermediate coils; but a plurality of series may be used, if desirable. I

may also use any form of supporting fabric 3 having surficient elasticity longitudinally.=

Either bar 6 may be adjusted separately, or 5 both conjointly. If lessinclination be desired than can be afforded by dropping 'the upper f bar, the duplicate bar may be'drawn horizon tally away from the angle-brackets till the f required adjustment is made. The opposite I eifect is produced by raising the upper bar 6. By adjusting both about equally the i-n'clinag tiono'f the fabric'm'a'y be maintained Without 5 change; but the area of the fabric'will beeni larged and its tension increased, this being at times an adjustment of much importance to adapt the head-rest to the use of very heavy persons. By reversing the-device,either end for end or bottom for top, the wear may be caused'to fa'llnpon'n'early all points eq-u ally and the unequal "stretching of the fabric is to f horizontal or vertical arms of the'angl e-bracka considerable degree avoided.

By releasing the clamping-screws or other E locking devices and drawing either pair of arms 5 out of their tubular seats the anglebrackets'may be laid flat by simply turning their horizontal portions axially, the Vertical arms being usually turned inward or toward each other. The fabric isthe'n laid down, and,

if necessary, it may be brought into substantially the same horizontal plane with the angle-brackets by simply turningthe'vertical 1 arms of the latter outwardor "away fromeach 5 other. In either position the parts composi ng the head-rests are all connected together and there are no loose parts to become lost or misplaced. In the manner described the entire head-rest may be quickly and easily 1sotogved beneath the mattress of an ordinary I may form threaded openings 12 for the set-screws upon more than one part of each arm 2 and 3 of the angle-brackets to enable the screws 7 to be inserted in diiferent directions or to be so placed when the angle-brackets are turned down flat that their milled heads will not rest upon the floor or upon the the surface sustaining the folding head-rest.

What I claim 'is'- 1. A head-rest for invalid-beds and other uses, consisting of angle-brackets, each having two tubular rigid arms substantially at a right angle with each other, transverse bars extending from bracket to bracket and having parallel arms entering the tubular arms and fastened therein at any suitable point, and a fabric connected to said transverse bars, substantially as described.

2. In a head-rest,the-combination, with angle-brackets, each hating a horizontal and a vertical arm, of supporting-bar's having parallel arms entering the said arms of the anglebrack'ets, means for locki-ngthe same at any point of adjustment, and anelastic fabric connected to said supporting-bars, substantially as described. 7

. 3. In a headn'est, the combination-,withangle-brackets, each consisting of .a section :of metallic pipe'bent between the ends 'to form a horizontal and :a vertical farm, of supporting-bars having rigid arms parallel with each other and at right angles'with the intermediate supporting-bars 'to enable them to be ins'erted and adjusted longitudinally in the 

